They call me the ‘Informant!’

Steven Soderbergh finally makes a mainstream comedy, and of course it’s a doozy. New in limited release this week with a wider roll out to follow is his zany corporate malfeasance comedy The Informant! staring Matt Damon as real-life white collar criminal Mark Whitacre, who spied on his own company, Archer Daniels Midland, while embezzling millions at that same time. It’s based on a true story, but Soderbergh and Damon—who packed on the pounds for the role—wring it out for every once of screwball comedy and Dr. Strangelove-esque incompetence they can find. Aided by a zany, Catch Me If You Can-style score and supporting roles from lesser-known but battle-tested comedic actors like Joel McHale, Tom Papa, Tony Hale, and LSU graduates Joe Chrest and Eddie Jemison, The Informant! looks to be a surprise hit for the Fall. Rated R. (Image courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)